Fire alarm systems are an essential safety feature that every residential and commercial property should have. In the United Kingdom, it is mandatory for all commercial properties to have a fire alarm system installed, while it is highly recommended for residential properties. With advancements in technology, there are now two types of fire alarm systems available – wireless and traditional hardwired systems. In this article, we will explore the benefits of having a fire alarm system installed and the advantages of wireless systems over traditional hardwired systems.
Benefits of Fire Alarm Systems
Early Detection: Fire alarm systems are designed to detect fire in its early stages, allowing occupants to evacuate the building safely and quickly. Early detection is crucial as it gives more time for the fire department to arrive and extinguish the fire.
Protection of Property: Fire alarm systems not only protect the occupants of the building but also the property. Early detection of fire means that damage to the property can be minimized, reducing the cost of repairs.
Compliance with Regulations: In the United Kingdom, all commercial properties are required to have a fire alarm system installed to comply with the Fire Safety Order 2005. Residential properties are not required to have a fire alarm system, but it is highly recommended.
Peace of Mind: Having a fire alarm system installed provides peace of mind for property owners and occupants, knowing that they are protected in case of a fire.
Responsible persons
If you are responsible for a property, it’s likely that you need to take some fire safety precautions to keep the people who use it safe. This includes almost all buildings, places and structures other than individual private homes – that’s individual flats in a block or family homes. Property manager’s responsibilities include shared areas in houses in multiple occupation (HMOs), blocks of flats and maisonettes.
Getting the right fire alarm system in place is one of your key responsibilities, though you will also need to consider the response to the alarm, along with the escape route,sprinklers and fire doors.
Why do you need to provide fire alarms?
- They save lives by giving people time to escape if there’s a fire.
- It’s the law.
- In the event of a fire, the right system will keep people safer, and may reduce damage to your building.
Did you know?
Property owners are required by law (The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005) to make sure premises reach required standards of fire safety.
Wondering ‘what kind of fire alarm do you need’?
It depends on your premises. Different alarm systems are better suited to different buildings. Current UK fire alarm regulations state that all business premises must have ‘an appropriate fire detection system’. That means that if there’s a fire, there needs to be a way for that fire to be easily detected and occupants can be warned easily.
Does everyone need a fire alarm system?
Legally speaking, not always. But we always recommend that everyone has a smoke alarm or heat alarm in every room where a fire could start.
It may be considered that your property does not require a full Fire detection system if the following reasons apply: –
- Your premises are small, simple, single-storey or open-plan.
- A shout of ‘fire!’ would be easily heard by all occupants.
- You don’t have any vulnerable occupants – that’s older people, very young people or people with disabilities.
- You don’t store any high-risk substances like as chemicals.
- You don’t undertake any high-risk activities, such as cooking.
- A fire would be easily spotted if it broke out anywhere in your premises.
Can you say yes to every one of these statements? If so, a simple smoke and heat alarm is likely to be enough for you.
The best way to understand your risks – and be within the law – is to complete your Fire Risk Assessment. If you have said ‘no’ to one or more statements or identified the need for a fire alarm system in your Fire Risk Assessment.
Firefighters guide to fire alarm systems.
Fire alarm legislation doesn’t specify exactly which each type of fire alarm system should be used where – it comes down to what’s right for your particular circumstances. The best way to identify what’s most appropriate for you is to use an accredited fire safety specialist. It’s also important to ensure it meets it’s BS 5839 specification requirements in line with the relevant British Standard.
There are 3 main types of automatic fire alarm system: conventional, wireless, and addressable.
Conventional Fire Alarm
This type of fire alarm is what most people imagine when they think of a fire alarm. It divides your premises into broad zones, and in the event of an alert, the fire alarm panel identifies the zone, but not the precise area
Who’s it for? Usually most suitable for smaller or lower risk environments.
Addressable Fire Alarm
This system is more intelligent because each individual fire detection device has its own unique electronic address. If one activates, the fire alarm panel tells you precisely where the problem is.
Who’s it for? Usually most suitable for larger or higher risk environments such as schools, care homes, hospitals.
Wireless Fire Alarm
This is intelligent system works in a similar way to the Addressable Fire Alarm – just without the wires. Instead, it uses a secure wireless link between the sensors and the fire alarm panel.
Who’s it for? Usually most suitable for premises where lots of cabling isn’t appropriate, such as churches and historic buildings.
Wireless Systems vs. Hardwired Systems
Traditional fire alarm systems are hardwired, meaning that the detectors, control panels, and notification devices are all connected through wires. In recent years, wireless fire alarm systems have become more popular due to their ease of installation and flexibility.
Easy Installation: Wireless fire alarm systems are easy to install and require minimal disruption to the property. Traditional hardwired systems, on the other hand, can be time-consuming and costly to install.
Flexibility: Wireless fire alarm systems are more flexible than hardwired systems. Detectors and notification devices can be placed anywhere in the property without the need for wires, making them ideal for retrofitting existing buildings.
Reliability: Wireless fire alarm systems are just as reliable as hardwired systems. They use radio frequency to communicate between the detectors and control panel, which is secure and reliable.
Maintenance: Wireless fire alarm systems require less maintenance than hardwired systems. Traditional systems require regular checks to ensure that all wires are connected and working correctly, which can be time-consuming and costly.
In conclusion, having a fire alarm system installed in residential and commercial properties is essential for protecting occupants and property in case of a fire. While traditional hardwired systems have been the norm, wireless fire alarm systems offer numerous advantages over traditional systems, such as easy installation, flexibility, and less maintenance. Whether choosing a wireless or hardwired system, property owners and managers should ensure that their fire alarm system is installed and maintained correctly to provide optimal protection in case of a fire.
What about fire alarm system ‘grades’ and ‘categories?
There is a complex system of ‘grades’ and ‘categories’ that define how your fire alarm system should be constructed (grades), and which areas of your building it should cover (categories). The best way to know what’s right for the property that you’re responsible for is to get advice from a reputable, accredited expert.
Testing and servicing your fire alarm – Fire alarm best practice
Our fire safety team are experts in helping all sizes of organisations Here are our suggestions when it comes to installing and maintaining a fire alarm system.
- If you are responsible for managing the property, make sure you have the right fire alarm system in places. Make sure the fire alarm system is the best fit for your premises and the occupancy. Not all areas require the same level of protection. Don’t complicate things unnecessarily.
- Make sure you use a ‘competent person’ to design, install, maintain, and manage your fire alarm system.
- Make maintenance top priority – it’s very important that maintenance arrangements are effective, with a comprehensive structure. Liaison with the ‘Responsible Person’ (if that’s not you) is essential to understand how to resolve false alarm issues and maintain an effective and reliable system that supports the risk assessment emergency plan.
- Make sure responsibilities are clearly defined and known.
- If you have a false alarm, identify the reason for it, then take action to minimise the chance of it happening again – you alarm maintainer can help with this.
- Introduce an appropriate filtering measure to prevent any false alarms from being unnecessarily passed to the London Fire Brigade – it’s important to focus firefighters on arrival to real emergencies.
- Make sure your Fire Risk Assessment and Emergency Plan is current and fit for purpose and that the alarm system supports the strategy in place.
- Regularly review and refresh the alarm system, procedures and staff training as necessary.
- Be organised and keep appropriate records.
- Always make sure your Emergency Plan includes a call to emergency services that confirms a real fire.
Maintenance Plans
It’s important to keep your fire alarm system properly maintained – if you don’t look after it properly, it might fail to warn of a fire.
How to keep your fire alarm well maintained
A regular maintenance schedule and effective local management will ensure the alarm can do its job. Make sure the maintainer is competent (and accredited) and that the schedule, combined with local alarm management practices is effective.
Considering your fire alarm system is an important part of your properties Fire Risk Assessment – is generally required under fire safety law. It will also play a role in your Emergency Plan.
Training your team
Be sure to test the system regularly, run suitable fire drills, train the staff according to needs and resolve system faults as soon as possible, ensuring interim measures are applied if the system is compromised.
If you have a stay-put strategy or a phased evacuation, make sure this is supported by your risk assessment process to make sure it isn’t compromised by any ongoing building maintenance/works.
If the fire alarm system may be isolated in areas of works, make sure you have put in place alternative means of a fire alert such as a “wake and watch” process for the period of time that the isolated devices are not operational.
Preventing false alarms
Did you know that the vast majority of signals from automatic fire alarms are not actual fires? Fire alarm and detection systems react to an increase in heat or the presence of smoke. Unfortunately, they can also react to things such as steam, cigarette smoke, aerosol sprays, and light smoke from cooking.
We understand that false alarms happen – but you should take care to reduce the likelihood, and if there is a false alarm, take appropriate action.
Tragically, people have died thinking a real fire was ‘just another false alarm’. Most false alarms are the result of an activity such as cooking, smoking or hot works or sometimes simply because the system was not taken off-line when being tested.
It’s important to minimize the false alarms to prevent complacency. If false alarms occur, it’s important not to unnecessarily transmit them to London Fire Brigade.
Why are false alarms dangerous?
- Fire crews should be at real emergencies – where they could be saving lives.
- The ‘crying wolf’ factor – frequent false alarms in a building cause staff to become complacent and less willing to act quickly when the alarm activates.
- Unnecessary risk – we travel at high speed to attend ‘emergency’ calls and accidents can happen. False alarms put the public and our crews at unnecessary risk.
Reducing false alarms
Thankfully, there is a lot you can do to reduce false alarms. Much of it is simple common sense – and part of your legal responsibilities already.
- Make sure the fire alarm design suits the premises design and use.
- Make sure the alarm system is properly and regularly maintained.
- Investigate false alarms and work with maintainers to build in measures that prevent unnecessary recurrence.
- Introduce a suitable filtering process – a means to safely investigate why the fire alarm went off BEFORE calling for the fire brigade.
- Consult with suitable professionals for relevant advice.
- Don’t forget you can talk to us if you’re struggling to resolve the problem and need guidance.
Life-saving technology
New detectors have improved technology and can measure a range of conditions to potentially be more effective at detecting a fire condition (if it’s a real fire or not). K2 Fire and Security Ltd ensure that we will use these in appropriate conditions to help reduce false alarms.
Another great idea is the pre-alarm. This is a staff alert to investigate before the general alarm sounds. This reduces the disruptive impact of false alarms on you organisation and can save lives by preventing the unnecessary attendance of our firefighters.